Picker control for looms



May 2, 1933. A. A. GORDON PICKER CONTROL FOR LOOMS Filed Feb. 6, 1931. 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A. A. GORDON PICKER CONTROL FOR LOOMS May 2,

Filed Feb. 6, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .[v i/EN T05 A1. 55/? 7/4. Gama v AUP/VEY5 Patented May 2, 1933 I; @FEifiE.

ALBERT A. GORDQN, F WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO CROMPTON & KNOVJLES LOOM "WORKS, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, A CQBPOB-ATION OF MASSACHUSETTS PICKER CONTROL FQR LOOMS Application filed February 6, 1931. Serial No. 513,986.

This invention relates to improvements in the automatic features of shifting shuttle box looms and it is the general object of the invention to create conditions which will cause automatic features at the box end of a loom to behave in a manner similar to that which exists at the plain end of a single box loom.

In certain types of weft replenishing looms shifting shuttle boxes are employed and it is necessary to perform automatic operations on a shuttle in motion. These operations may be either the detection of weft 5 by means of a feeler, or the transfer of a bobbin into an exhausted shuttle. The only time when these operations can ordinarily take place is when the shuttle is boxed, but in a box loom the shuttles are shifting from one position to another during practically the whole time in which they are boxed.

The shifting of the boxes usually starts shortly after protection and is completed slightly before the time for picking, a condition which usually requires the boxes to be moving when the lay is in its foremost position, and it is at this time that the weft detector or the transferrer mechanism come into action.

The usual picking mechanism for the shuttles on the shifting box end of the loom includes a single picker which remains in substantial alignment with the shuttle race Without partaking of the shifting movements of the shuttle. ,As a result, the shuttles when shifting out of active position usually have a slight movement toward the center of the loom due to the fact that the outer tip end of the shuttle must cam itself 0 out of the pocket in the picker as the shuttles shift. Under certain conditions this longitudinal camming of the shuttle takes place while some operation incident to weft replenishment occurs.

In the case of the Weft detector, and particularly one operating on the side slipping principle, if the detector is mounted to move outwardly toward the end of the lay, the in ward camming of the shuttle sets up a strain 0 between the detector tip and the arm on the bobbin, resulting in yarn abrasion. If, on

the other hand, the detector is made to slip toward the center of the loom in order to give its indication, the inward movement of the shuttle with the detector in contact with its yarn may be sufiicient to move the feeler to a point where a false indication of Weft exhaustion will be given.

It is seen from the foregoing that the use of a side slip weft detector on the shifting shuttle box end of the loom is attended with objections regardless of the direction in which the feeler slides to give its indication. It is an important object of my present invention to provide means whereby the shuttle is relieved from the necessity of moving lengthwise of the lay, so that the conditions incident to an automatic operation will be substantially the same as those existing on the plain end of a loom where there is but one shuttle box.

It is a further object of my present invention to provide means whereby the pickor instead of the shuttle is permitted to have a longitudinal movement with respect to the lay when the boxes shift, thereby permitting the shuttle to remain at rest with respect to the shifting box.

It is another object of my present invention to provide a temporary stop for the picker which shall act to position both the picker and the incoming active shuttle at the instant of boxing of the latter, the stop being so arranged as to move out of restraining relation with respect to the picker so that the latter will be free to move when the shuttle boxes shift.

'Vfhile I have set forth the advantages of my invention in connection with a feeler, yet it is equally applicable to any operation involving a shuttle the success of which is dependent upon keeping the shuttle in the same longitudinal position with respect to the lay as the shuttle boxes shift, and for this reason I do not wish to be limited to the particular disclosure made hereinafter.

lVith these and other objects in view which will appear as the d-escription'proceeds, my invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein aconvenient embodiment of my invention is set forth,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the right hand end of a pick and pick loom having my invention applied thereto,

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 1,

4 Fig. 3 is a detailed section on line 33 of Fig. 2 indicating the manner of operation of the device,

Fig. 4 is an end elevation taken in the direction of arrow 4, Fig. 1, and

Fig. 5 is a detail transverse vertical section on line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

I have set forth my invention herein as being applicable more particularly to a weft replenishing pick and pick loom having a set of shifting shuttle boxes at each end of the lay, and have illustrated the weft detector or feeler mechanism as being the automatic feature of the loom which is to have engagement with the shuttles. The bobbin changing devices may be similar to those already known and set forth in prior patents granted to me.

Referring to the drawings, the loom frame supports a fixed stand 11 in which is slidably mounted a controller 12. The latter is guided in the stand and is normally in the retracted position shown in Fig. 2. An actuator 13 has a periodic movement timed to coact with the controller at the time of weft detection. If the actuator 13 is uninterrupted in its movement no change is indicated, and such a condition will exist so long as sufficient weft is present in the shuttle being detected. If movement of the actuator is interrupted, however, due to the fact that the controller 13 lies across the path thereof, a change will take place in the operation of the loom, such for instance, as weft replenishment by mechanism not shown herein. This change is desired when weft is substantially absent in the shuttle cooperating with the weft detector.

The controller is pivotally connected to a rod 14 loosely pivoted to a swinging frame 15 pivoted as at 16 to fixed structure. A light spring 17 acts to hold the controller in the operative normal position shown in Fig. 2, and serves also to hold the vertical bar 18 of the frame 15 against the detector finger 19. The latter forms part of a weft detecting mechanism designated generally at 20 and similar in construction to that shown in patent to Payne No. 1,738,198.

The detector is mounted on a movable platform 21 which slides in guideways defined by the fixed structure 22 on which the frame 15 is pivotally mounted. It is not necessary to set forth herein theparticular mechanism by which the detector operates as this has been shown in an earlier patent granted to Nelson No. 1,674,871.

It is sufficient for the purposes of the present description to state that the dectector finger 19 is caused to have engagement with the shuttle which is in active position and opposite the race plate 23 forming part of the lay L, and that when sufficient weft for continued weaving is present the finger 19 moves forwardly without causing appreciable angular movement of the frame 15, thus permitting the rod 14 and controller 12 to remain at rest. When weft is absent in the shuttle being detected, however, the detector finger 19 will move to the left as viewed in Fig. 2, having the usual and well-known side slipping movement along the denuded bobbin, to cause longitudinal movement to the left on the part of the rod 14 and controller 12.

' The lay is provided with inner and outer spaced grooved guides and 31 which receive the tongues 32 and 33, respectively, of a gang of drop boxes designated generally at 34 and having four cells. The boxes are mounted on a box rod 35 having vertical movements which are determined by a pattern mechanism and caused by a box motion, neither of which is set forth herein. Each cell of the box has a binder 36 slotted as at 37 to permit the detector finger 19 to have access to the bobbin B in the shuttle S which is either moving to or away from detecting position. It is to be understood that the box rod 35 will lift the gang of boxes so that one or another of the cells and its shuttle will be in alignment with the race plate 23.

For the purpose of picking the shuttle I provide a picker spindle 40 which may be mounted on spindle stands 41 and 42 in the usual manner, and mount on said spindle a picker 43. picker stick 44 when the lay is approximately at top center and on its backward stroke. This picker has the usual socket 45 to receive the outer end of that shuttle which happens to be in picking position. A vertical guide 46 of the usual type may be employed to prevent improper endwise movement of the shuttles S outwardly and away from the center of the loom.

The matter thus far described may be of the usual and well-known construction and operates in a manner common on so-ealled box looms, the picker extending through a slot 47 formed in the lay end 48 and being driven along the spindle 40 by the picker stick sothat it occupies ordinarily the same vertical position regardless of shifting movements on the part of the gang of boxes 34. The depth of the socket 45 depends somewhat upon the age of the picker but will usually be sufficient to receive an appreciable amount of the shuttle tip 49.

In carrying my invention into effect I provide means whereby movement of'the shuttles in a vertical direction under influence of The latter is acted upon by a the box rod will act to permit the shuttle in contact with the weft detector to preserve its longitudinal position relatively to the lay and unmoved relatively to the boxes. Heretofore, in drop box looms, it has been a nec essary incident to the operation of the box shifting mechanism that the shuttle in contact with the picker move inwardly as the boxes shift, because the vertically moving shuttle cams itself out of the socket 45. This motion interferes either with the weft detector as the latter swings inwardly on its detecting movement, or results in abrasion of the weft if the weft detector is mounted to swing outwardly.

Accordingly, I provide a movable stop for the picker which is so positioned when the active shuttle enters the box as to hold the picker in a relatively inward position, the stop being movable during the further forward movement of the lay to such position as will permit an outward movement on the part of the picker without causing movement of the shuttle in contact therewith if the boxes shift.

The stop comprises a roller normally in engagement with the outer vertical surface 61 of the picker which is normally in axial alignment with that part of the picker having the socket 45 therein. The roller is substantially in line with the shuttle to take the blow of the latter as it is boxed without sub-- jecting the picker to appreciable twisting or torsional strains. The roller is mounted on a stop rod 62 extending through a lever The latter is pivoted as at 64 to a part of the lay structure and the position of the rod 62 relatively to the lever is determined by means of nuts 65, the latter serving as stops to limit inward movement of the rod under action of a compression spring 66. The spring is so related to the stop rod as to tend normally to hold the roll to the left as viewed in Fig. 3.

The bottom of the lever is pivotally connected as at 67 to an adjustable link 68 having connection at the left hand end thereof as viewed in Fig. 1 with a lever 69. The latter is pivoted as at 70' to a stand 71 secured to the under side of the lay end 48. Lever 69 is normally held in the position shown in Fig. 1 by means of a tension spring 72 interposed between the stand 71 and a finger 73 formed as part of the lever 69.

The lever 69 has an arm 74 which rotatably supports a roll 75 having contact with the cam 76 secured to the loom frame. As shown in Fig. 5 the cam has a forward dwell 77 and a point 78. The cam face continues rearwardly from the point to a lower level designated at 79.

At the time of shuttle boxing the lay will be in a relatively rearward position, approximately midway between its back and forward positions, and travelling toward the front.

The spring 72 will hold the roll 7 5 against the rear dwell 79, or any other suitable stop, and with'the parts in this position the roll 60 will be as shown in full lines in Fig. 3. As soon as the shuttle has become completely boxed, and is at rest with respect to the shuttle boxes, the roll 75 will move up the point 78, thereby rocking the lever 69 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1 and causing the lever 63 to move in a countercloclnvise direction about its pivot 64 so as to assume the position suggested in dotted lines in Fig. 3. Movement of this character on the part of lever 63 lowers the roll 60 to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 3. The roll moves downwardly and also outwardly because of its relation with respect to the pivot 64:, but the net effect of its movement is to take it out of the path of movement of the picker.

The parts are so timed that continued ad vance movement of the lay is accompanied by a shifting of the shuttle boxes should the pattern mechanism require a change in the running weft. The picker, being free to move longitudinally along the picker spindle and not being restrained by the roll 60, will move outwardly to the dotted position shown in Fig. 8, thereby exerting practically no longitudinal force on the shuttle in contact therewith, and the latter will accordingly remain at rest with respect to the boxes. The weft detector is in contact with the shuttle engaged by the picker during the shifting of the shuttle boxes and also during a part or the whole of the time during which the picker is moved outwardly. The shuttle therefore has the same detecting conditions with respect to the feeler as it would have if the shuttle boxes were not shifting. It is for this reason that the detector may perform its normal function without being subject to any interference resulting from endwise movement of the shuttle.

On the following backward movement of the lay the roll will pass over the point 7 8 and the parts will be restored to the position shown in Fig. 1. The diameter of the roll 60, together with its outward displacement due to downward movement around pivot 64, is such as will enable the roll to engage a part of the picker and move the same inwardly as the parts are restored to normal position. The picker stick is so controlled as to permit the described movements of the picker. The cam is so timed that the return movement of the picker to normal position does not interfere with the last part of the shifting movement of the shuttle boxes.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided means whereby the shuttle which is in contact with the weft detector and is also moving either toward or from active position will be free from any force which would otherwise be communicated to it to cause longitudinal inward movement resulting from the socket 45 in the picker. In this way the weft detector operates substantially as it does on the plain end of an automatic loom and without interference due to longitudinal movement of the shuttle. While the weft detector has been set forth herein as a specific part of automatic equipment of a weft replenishingloom yet the invention is equally applicable to any part of the automatic equipm ment which has operative relation with a shuttle moving toward or out of active position.

Having thus described my invention it will be seen that changes and modifications may be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, but what I claim is:

1. In a loom having a lay provided with shifting shuttle boxes and shuttles therefor, and having a single picker movable along the lay to'propel any shuttle in active position, a weft detector to engage the weft of a shuttle 28 in active position, a stop to engage the picker to position the actiXe shuttle with respect to the detector, means to move said stop in a direction transverse of the path of the picker, said stop and picker remaining in substan- 30 tial engagement during the first part of said movement and during the forward movement of the day, and means to vary the position of the stop with respect to said means to compensate for the wearing of the picker, whereby the relative position of the shuttle and detector can be preserved.

2. In a loom having a lay providedvwith shifting shuttle boxes and shuttles therefor, and having a single picker movable along the lay to propel any shuttle in active position,

a weft detector to engage the weft of a shut tle in active position and remain in engagement therewlth as the active shuttle moves away from active position, a stop for the plcker effective to position the shuttle with respect to the detector, and means effective during forward movement of the lay to move said stop out of restraining position with respect to the picker, the picker being thereafter free 0 to move longitudinally of the lay without causing movement of the shuttle, and the shuttle and detector preserving their relative position during shifting of the boxes.

7 In testimony whereof I have hereunto af- 5 fixed my signature.

ALBERT A. GORDON 

